Perfectly Aware
SSA Aaron Hotchner sat in his office looking at his picture of Penelope Garcia. Okay, so maybe having a picture of her in his wallet was a little creepy, but he didn't care. She had feelings for him and he had feelings for her. He was a profiler for Pete's sake! He noticed things for a living and he noticed the way she looked at him. She would never tell him that, of course, but he knew. The way he patted her back after a rough case, the way he bought her a new bright pen—those were all ways that he showed his love for her. And she greatly appreciated those gestures. And she comforted him, too, espescially in the aftermath of Foyet. She made him cookies—a whole box of them. And she let him know he wasn't alone. That's when he knew she returned his feelings.
As much as he hated to admit it, the Unit Chief of the BAU did have a dark side. And Penelope Garcia knew. And he knew she knew it. Oh sure, he was always so sweet and gentle with victims and witnesses. But when it came to the latest unsub, watch out! The stoic leader had a side of him no one wanted to see, except maybe the technical analyst. And he was perfectly aware she liked it. One day, when they were dealing with a particularly smug unsub, he slammed his hands on the desk. Garcia jumped—not out of fear, but out of excitement. Hotch gave Garcia one of his infamous "Hotch glares," one that said I'll give you something to fear. I'll make you be afraid of me. Garcia giggled and clamped her hand over her mouth. Too late. Hotch read her loud and clear. He knew his glare got Garcia going every time. That's what happens when you leave your computer diary open he thought.
He purposefully pitched his voice lower and got in the unsub's face—just to see if his theory about Garcia was right. He didn't see what the big deal about his voice was, but he could command a room and an unsub like no other FBI agent. Ocassionaly, when time was of the essence, he would bark orders at Garcia, wanting to chastize her because he knew she was focused on him and not the case at hand. He emitted a low growl at the unsub.
"Tell us where she is," he commanded, "or I'll make your life miserable."
The unsub just smirked at him. That's when the normally composed leader lost it. He slammed the unsub against the wall. Garcia couldn't help it. She let out a squeal. She loved it when he lost control. It was a rare sight, but a pretty attractive one. Hotchner slammed the door and brushed past Garcia.
So that's how Hotch ended up in his office gawking at his picture of Garcia. They at least saved the victim of the day, and the unsub would be behind bars for the rest of his life. He smiled at that, and the thoughts of the one and only Penelope Garcia. Despite all the darkness within him, maybe he'd get the courage to tell her how he felt about her. He slammed the door and walked to Garcia's office. He wouldn't just tell her how he felt. He'd show her.